And on the sixth day...

Well, the sixth day was an optional trip to Masada and the Dead Sea and I didn't quite bring enough money to take this optional trip so I opted to stay back, sleep in, and spend the day exploring Jerusalem without a tour guide. Unfortunately, my roommate/travel buddy came down with the dreaded stomach virus so I spent the morning feeling very sorry for her. Around 11 a couple of ladies that were on the trip with us stopped by the room and asked if I'd like to go with them. I said sure and met them downstairs where we took a taxi down to the old city. It was kind of like a big market place, a walkway lined with shop after shop after shop all trying to get you to buy stuff from them.



This is how the market area looked.

Here are Joan and Jan trying to be hustled into buying something for too much. They finally caught on to the game and got him down to a very reasonable price by doing the walk out without buying it bit. That was fun to watch.

Look at the tray this guy is carrying on his head!

Here is a shop with lots of spices and scents and all that kind of thing. As you can see, they are just out there in the open in bowls.

This is a mosaic done where the Jewish Quarters begins. Lots of places and churches have tons of mosaics everywhere. Some places the walls and ceilings are all mosaics! It's incredible. I think I have pictures of it so you'll see some more later.

Here's a picture of some soldiers. They like posing for pictures. They were stopping for lunch and getting falafels, the traditional fast food in Israel. Falafels are a sandwich of fried chick peas and herbs, served with salad in pita bread.

Here's the cafe where Joan and Jan bought their first falafel and fell in love with it.

Can't you tell from their expressions that they were really enjoying it?!

Then we bought some bread from the guy pushing his bread cart around.

After that, we took a taxi back to the hotel and just hung out and relaxed until dinner time. It was a fun day. I really wish Lauren could have been there with me to enjoy it though rather than being stuck in the hotel sick.